Method and apparatus for fabricating structures

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus by which physical structures are fabricated substantially entirely of resilient members or modules. The structures may be compressed for shipment and, when released from restraint, spring into the final shape of structure desired.

United States Paten Grasswick [451 June 27, 1972 1541 METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR F ABRICATING STRUCTURES [72] Inventor: James E. Grasswlck,331 Dorado, Ridgecrest, Calif. 93555 [22] Filed: March 2, 1970 [21]App1.No.: 15,530

[52] U.S. Cl ..267/l82 [51] Int. Cl. ..F16f 1/14, F16f 3/00, 605g 17/00[58] Field of Search ..267/165, 182; 248/277 [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 2,783,296 2/1957 Hendrix ..267/l82 2,665,6421/1954 DeMent etal. ..267/l82 1,008,79411/1911 Denis 3,339,911 9/1967Afstrom ..267/l53 Primary Examiner-Drayton E. Hoffman Attorney-R. S.Sciascia, Roy Miller and Gerald F. Baker 57 ABSTRACT A method andapparatus by which physical structures are fabricated substantiallyentirely of resilient members or modules. The structures may becompressed for shipment and, when released from restraint, spring intothe final shape of structure desired.

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GOVERNMENT INTEREST The invention described herein may be manufacturedand used by or for the Government of the United States of America forgovernment purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon ortherefor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of self erectable or expandablestructures has been dominated in the past by power operated lazy tongstructures. The present invention contemplates the fabrication of selferectable structures by means of individual or integral spring sections.Such construction eliminates unnecessary weight and greatly simplifiesfabrication. Also, a more uniform application of power is possible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is adiagrammatic perspective view of a first structure fabricated inaccordance with the invention;

. FIG. 2 is a section taken along line 2 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the structure of FIG. 1in packaged form;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective of a portion of FIG. 2 in enlargeddetail;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective of a second structure fabricated inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating the recovery of avehicle;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of FIG. 5 illustratingone manner of assembly of elements{ and FIG. 8 is an exploded sectionalview taken along line 8 8 of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION .In FIG. 1, spring modules 12 are connectedin orthogonal rows to form an antenna unit 14, 14' which, in thecompressed state, forms a low profile package as shown in FIG. 3, whilein the expanded state, assumes an elongated shape in the form of anantenna, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

For convenience in shipping and to form a base for the unit, a containeror box 16 may be provided. The container 16 may be of any shape whichwill accommodate a particular spring device but is here shown as arectangular box having a bottom 18 and sides 23, 24.

The antenna sections 14, 14' are fastened for movement relative to afixed coil 40" which may be fastened to container 16 by means of weld48, for example. Suitable bracing should be provided when the sectionsare extended and such is indicated here simply by cables 20 fastened tothe lowermost spring module 12 and secured to container 16 at points 22.

Uppermost spring module 12 in FIG. 2 has four coils 38, 40, 42 and 44and as shown has its coil 38 fastened to a coil 44' of a spring moduleof section 14'. The second spring module from the top in section 14 hasits coil 38 fastened to coil 44" of section 14' and so on. The sectionsmay be fastened at these points by any suitable hardware or may besimply welded, as shown in FIG. 4, if the welding is carefully done.

When the unit is packed for shipment with coils 40, 44

fastened by releasable means 50, a suitable lid 34 may be used toenclose the container as shown in FIG. 3. Spring units 12 may be madeintegral by joining the ends of the spring material between joints asshown at 36 in FIG. 4. Welds 36 are typical but, as stated above, may bedisplaced by ordinary bolts or other suitable hardware.

FIG. 5 shows a cylindrical spring structure designed to be lowered overan object to ensnare it for retrieval. Spring units 12 are connected bybolting, forexample as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, to form a cylinder. Thespring elements are held in stressed sitipn by a plurality of severablebands 50' for form a cylin er with maximum diameter and minimum height.

When bands 50 are severed, the spring units assume a position ofreleased tension tending to form a cylinder of minimum diameter andmaximum length as shown in FIG. 6.

As shown, the unit may be transported and lowered by a hoist line 56attached to a cable 52 threaded through coils 74 of the upper row ofspring elements 12', by means of connecting lines 57. Lines 57 terminatein loops 64 which slidingly engage upper cable 52. A lower cable 54 ispreferably threaded through coils 70 of the lowermost row of springunits and may be attached to draw lines in the manner well known tomakers and users of purse seines.

When the compressed unit as shown in FIG. 5 is lowered over an objectsuch as vehicle and the bands 50' released, change of shape of the unitwill cause the vehicle 80 to be ensnared as shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 shows the type of spring module 12' useable in the exercise ofthe invention as shown in FIG. 5. Although the FIG. 2 and FIG. 7 springsare representative, it is to be understood that the spring loops andtheir configuration relative to each other are merely representative andmay take any form consistent with the purpose for which they are to beused. Thus, if one loop or one connecting web member interferes withanother web member or spring convolution it is a simple matter torelocate the web member with respect to another web member or to changethe direction of convolutions in order to rectify the situation.

In FIG. 2, the spring units 12 have opposing convolutions 40 and 44external of the enclosed loop and convolutions 38 and 42 extendinginternal to the enclosed loop a second modification is illustrated inFIG. 7.

Although only two practical embodiments have been shown with springelements arranged orthogonally and cylindrically, respectively, itshould be apparent that many other shapes and forms may be used toaccomplish a variety of purposes without departing from the basicinventive concept disclosed.

What is claimed is:

l. A structure consisting entirely of a plurality of joined identicalspring members; each said spring member consisting of a parrallelogramof spring material having one or more convolutions at each apex; saidspring members being joined together at the apices to form a structuralpattern.

2. A collapsible and expandable structure consisting of a plurality ofstructural elements and means for fastening said elements together; eachstructural elementconsisting of an elongated endless spring memberforming a a quadrilateral; each said member having four sides or webportions intersecting in four apices; each of said portions being equalin length and being joined at the apices in one or more convolutions;

said members being joined together by said fastening means only at theapices thereof in rows or tiers to form a structural pattern.

3. A modular construction element consisting of an endless length ofspring material formed generally in the shape of a parallelogram withfour side or web portions joined at four apices in one or more coils.

4. The element of claim 3 wherein one pair of opposing coils loopsinwardly of said parallelogram 5. The element of claim 3 wherein all ofsaid coils loop outwardly of said parallelogram.

6. A collapsible and expandable structure consisting of a plurality ofstructural elements and means for fastening said elements together; eachstructural element consisting of an elongated endless spring memberforming a quadrilateral; each said member having four sides or webportions intersecting in four apices; each of said portions being equalin length and being joined at the apices in one or more convolutions;

said members being joined together by said fastening means at the apicesthereof in rows or tiers in circular array to form a cylindricalstructural pattern.

l II il l

1. A structure consisting entirely of a plurality of joined identicalspring members; each said spring member consisting of a parrallelogramof spring material having one or more convolutions at each apex; saidspring members being joined together at the apices to form a structuralpattern.
 2. A collapsible and expandable structure consisting of aplurality of structural elements and means for fastening said elementstogether; each structural element consisting of an elongated endlessspring member forming a a quadrilateral; each said member having foursides or web portions intersecting in four apices; each of said portionsbeing equal in length and being joined at the apices in one or moreconvolutions; said members being joined together by said fastening meansonly at the apices thereof in rows or tiers to form a structuralpattern.
 3. A modular construction element consisting of an endlesslength of spring material formed generally in the shape of aparallelogram with four side or web portions joined at four apices inone or more coils.
 4. The element of claim 3 wherein one pair ofopposing coils loops inwardly of said parallelogram
 5. The element ofclaim 3 wherein all of said coils loop outwardly of said parallelogram.6. A collapsible and expandable structure consisting of a plurality ofstructural elements and means for fastening said elements together; eachstructural element consisting of an elongated endless spring memberforming a quadrilateral; each said member having four sides or webportions intersecting in four apices; each of said portions being equalin length and being joined at the apices in one or more convolutions;said members being joined together by said fastening means at the apicesthereof in rows or tiers in circular array to form a cylindricalstructural pattern.